Erkan, Hanife, and their children Bengisu & Aybuke Beren live in Izmit-Kocaeli City, Turkey.
I have seen many pictures that Erkan has taken. He has a wide range of subjects, but I particularly like his nature pictures. He seems to enjoy this pastime very much.
Written By Duane Duff, Canada, 2006.

I have known Ismail Menekse as one of tradesman. While times passed away our friendship has developed. He has a personality of knows never any bounds and wishes developing himself at every field & fronts.. Stepping into his younghood desires does not date back much...

He started painting of oil and water color as amateur at the start of 2004. The way he has paved is some concrete evidence of decidedness, determination but more personal ambition to how some personal efforts reach to the utmost point. It is some special honor and privileges for us being subject matter to his some masterpieces of works.

It is happiness for me being one ordinary guy, out of his much loved and esteemed friends. My expectation and hope is that one day, my dear and esteemed friend Ismail Menekse would have spared more times to the heritages of my native city of Izmit and his native city of Kutahya... Keeping my desire and hope one day Ismail Menekse will make heritages of Izmit & Kutahya as subject matters on his next pieces of work in the days and years to come.

My wish and humble personal expectation is that dear Ismail Menekse who started his way of art from locality, from that point reaches to nationality, make him known national and international basis by millions of people all over the globe. May it be possible! Who knows! My effort is just a drop in the ocean to his creativity and desire of produce…

Ismail MenekseHe was born in Emet County, Kutahya City. He graduated from Geology Section of University Istanbul after having graduated from High School of Kutahya. He settled in Izmit City where he has finished his military service. Ever since that date he has been dealing with trade of construction isolation materials in Izmit City.He has great ambitious in painting ever since his childhood. He traveled all around the globe and made many close observations and reviews on other societies’ cultures and daily lives. He has taken many private painting lessons. Also he has taken private and precious lessons of water color from Interior Architect and painter Mr. Emre Gokdua after 2004 on.

He has tended to arouse the transparency and poetry in his water color masterpieces. He emphasized to display the reflections of daily lives occurred around himself on his all oil color and water color masterpieces.